DESO's Final Birthday!
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SPEAK is a Network connecting the emerging generation to campaign and pray on issues of global justice. Through bringing change to situations of injustice we aim to share our faith in our creator: God.
SPEAK combines campaigning and prayer because we believe that they make a powerful combination to bring social transformation. We believe in networking because only together, when acting and praying in unity, can we really make a difference.
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by Joanna Frew
At long last DESO is to be closed! We were extremely happy to hear the Prime Minister announce that he will shut the Defence Export Services Organisation (DESO), the arms marketing unit funded by public money.
SPEAK have been praying and calling for DESO's closure since 2003. On our Day of Action in February 2004 more than 250 members of the network gathered to pray and repent outside the DESO offices in central London. Our action was followed by other actions organized by Campaign Against the Arms Trade (CAAT) and Fellowship of Reconciliation (FoR) in October 2006, when campaigners held a peaceful vigil encircling DESO. At last year’s summer festivals we encouraged people to join in making what was to be DESO's final birthday card - a creative and ultimately prophetic statement that the 40 year old department is truly over the hill. On 7th March 2007 the Treasury received a petition signed by over 10,000 people.
The announcement that DESO is to be closed is a hopeful step towards an end to government support and promotion of the arms trade, the focus of our 'Counting the Cost' campaign. In future military export promotion will be the responsibility of UK Trade and Investment, the body that supports all UK exports. UKTI reports to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office and the Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform, the former Department of Trade & Industry. We need to monitor UKTI to make sure that military exports, which form less than 2% of total UK exports, do not use a disproportionate amount of its resources.
So its not over yet, there is more for us to do...
Take Action - let's keep up the pressure!
There has obviously been outcry from the arms industry over the DESO closure, and we need to make sure our counter-lobby is equally loud! So please write to your MP and the Prime Minister and state your support for the closure of DESO, and our hope that this is a step towards an end to all government subsidies for arms exports. There is an example letter at www.speak.org.uk/desosampleletter
Write to: The Rt Hon Gordon Brown MP, Prime Minister, 10 Downing Street, London, SW1 2AA
Or email at: http://www.number-10.gov.uk/output/Page821.asp
Please pray that DESO's closure will see a real shift in wider government support and promotion of the arms trade!